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Sweet as some candy corn on Halloween: Capitals beat Canadiens 6-3

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Capitals vs Canadiens
📸: kurly from #crashers

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The Washington Capitals hosted the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night, Halloween. The Caps ran roughshod on the Rangers in their last outing to start this three-game homestand and were looking to pick up another two points against some lesser competition in the Habs.

Tom Wilson opened the scoring with a power-play strike in the second. Montreal responded with a power-play goal of their own from Cole Caufield and then an even-strength marker from Brendan Gallagher. Washington took the lead again through two goals in quick succession from Brandon Duhaime and Jakub Vrana. Nick Suzuki potted a one-time blast to tie the game heading into the second intermission.

The Capitals took over from there as Connor McMichael, Aliaksei Protas, and Alex Ovechkin all scored in the final frame to seal a victory.

Capitals beat Canadiens 6-3!

  • Montreal came into Thursday night’s game on the back of an 8-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, meaning they were not about to let this game be an open one from the start. And they succeeded in the first period, boring us all by stacking their zone and not attempting to play any offense. The shots were just 7-6 in favor of Washington at the first intermission and neither goaltender really needed to move around a whole lot.
  • The confidence that Connor McMichael is playing with this season is so fun to watch. He has become a one-man entry at even strength and on the power play. The 23-year-old potted his fifth goal of the season on a nifty backhand move early in the third.
  • I know it, unfortunately, came at the expense of Jakob Chychrun, but it’s good to see Alex Alexeyev finally get a sweater this season. Double-A was coming on strong at the end of last season and has probably only been out of the lineup to start the season because of just how excellent Washington has played through the early stages of their schedule.

  • Well, the two teams must have heard me type that first recap bullet because the second was anything but boring. Six goals in the period and way too much power play time for Montreal. You can’t parade to the box against bad teams, it’s the only way they can really burn you.
  • No one holds the Capitals to 0-for-22 on their power play. Tom Wilson finally broke the seal for the man advantage with his sixth goal in nine games. Ha, funny number. Nice.
  • We thought Aliaksei Protas had a beautiful shorthanded goal until a review showed that he was offside by a whole body length. Somehow, the linesman, with a completely clear view of the line, did not initially blow that play down.
  • The Capitals need a save from Charlie Lindgren during that second period, but I’m sure he’d know that and would say it himself. Two of Montreal’s three goals in the frame should not be finding the back of the net. Cole Caufield shoots a softball through his body, and then he seemingly loses track of where his net is on Nick Suzuki’s tally.

  • Washington sealed the win with a huge 90-plus second kill of a 5-on-3 advantage in the third. There were a lot of soft calls from the officials, but the Capitals also kept giving them a reason to raise their arms.
  • Alex Ovechkin sure had his passing skates on tonight. That fake-shot pass to Protas for Washington’s fifth goal was a thing of beauty. He then passed a puck into an empty net after Protas completely pulled Cayden Primeau out of Montreal’s net with a sweet move in front.
  • Rare to see Wilson lose a fight. Completely clean hit but the Canadiens are clearly a frustrated bunch.
  • Rasmus Sandin has been excellent this season. Huge shot block in the third period that seemed to really shake him up. Good to see him make his way back into the game after that.

The Capitals will finish off this homestand against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Enjoy your candy, Happy Halloween!

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